Celebrities Share Their Memories of Joel Siegel
Actors, directors and former anchors discuss Siegel's impact.
July 9, 2007 — -- Longtime entertainment critic Joel Siegel died of colorectal cancer late last month. Some of Hollywood's biggest names shared their thoughts and paid tribute to Siegel on "Good Morning America."
He had a real sense of loving movies and loving actors and the process and the craft of filmmaking, and he didn't come from a condensing point of view. He was just a human, warm, good guy and his book that he wrote when he was sick I think really helped a lot of people. He gave me a signed copy last time I saw him, which I'm very happy that I have. I wish his family all the best. He'll be missed.
Of all the things that Joel had done in his life, of all the people he had known, the people he had interviewed, the places he'd been, nothing made him light up like Dylan, like talking about his son. I will always remember that.
I was always such a fan of Joel's because he was such a fan of film, movies and even his reviews that weren't exactly too kind to the film were charming. They were filled with wit and as far as I was concerned on the couple of pictures of mine he didn't like, he never hurt my feelings — that's one of the things I love about him. He loved pictures, he loved family, he loved people and that was reflected throughout his entire life.
He understood that behind every movie was a person, a human being, somebody who had poured their heart and soul out for a year or two or three and he cared. He cared a lot, and it meant so much to me and I know to all of us who have spent our careers making these movies.
I don't think there was any hate in Joel. Unlike many critics, when Joel reviewed a film I think he always tried to find something positive, even if he didn't think the film was good. He didn't take pot shots to show off how smart he was or how well he could write. He knew how difficult it is to make even a bad film, and how vulnerable most actors are.
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